NEW ORLEANS — August 15, 2017 – CrescentCare was joined by government officials, financing partners, community members, and development team members for the official ground-breaking of a new health center at 1631 Elysian Fields Avenue, one block from N. Claiborne.

District D City Councilmember Jared Brossett spoke in support of the Project, which will bring vital healthcare services and over 200 permanent jobs to this district. Brossett was joined by District C Councilmember Nadine Ramsey, State Senator Jack Donahue (District 11), and State Representative John Bagneris (District 100). Dr. David Teuscher, US Department of Health and Human Services Regional Administrator for Intergovernmental and External Affairs (Region 6), also appeared during his visit to Louisiana to meet local healthcare stakeholders to address the State’s most pressing healthcare concerns.

“This Project has been a labor of love for the community – I’m glad to say City Council unanimously voted to support the Project,” Councilmember Brossett said in his remarks. “Increasing healthcare accessibility is what we need in our city, throughout our great state, and throughout the country.”

At the site, CrescentCare will combine four of its current service sites into a comprehensive campus, tripling the Federally-Qualified Health Center’s capacity to provide comprehensive services: primary care, pediatric care, dental, HIV services, case management, and behavioral health services to individuals at all income and insurance levels. CrescentCare grew out of the NO/AIDS Task Force, one of the oldest AIDS Services Organization in the nation and a long-standing community organization. The groundbreaking event was held in conjunction with National Health Center Week.

“As a client at CrescentCare, I’ve gone from needing hand-holding to now being on the Board of Trustees. CrescentCare has given me an opportunity to really grow as a woman living with HIV,” Ms. Brown remarked.

CrescentCare CEO Noel Twilbeck believes the organization will make a meaningful impact on health outcomes in New Orleans.

“It is the community’s need for services that confirms our commitment to grow, to expand, and with the help of our partners and other outstanding organizations in this city, to strive for a New Orleans in which everyone has access to high quality, affordable health care within reach of their homes and neighborhoods,” Mr. Twilbeck said.

Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (GCHP) serves as the Developer and Project Manager. GCHP has been working with CrescentCare toward this concept since 2012.

“The relationship between Gulf Coast Housing Partnership and CrescentCare is a brilliant embodiment of GCHP’s mission,” said Kathy Laborde, President & CEO of GCHP. “We are known as affordable housing providers, but there is so much more to quality living besides housing. We work to provide facilities where we can bring healthcare and financial services to the residents.”

“We worked in the past with CrescentCare to create of affordable homes in this community. Today, just around the corner from those homes, we celebrate our partnership again – breaking ground on this community-driven, accessible, and comprehensive healthcare facility. We couldn’t be more proud.”

Financing for the $23 million new facility is made possible with a New Markets Tax Credit allocation from Primary Care Development Corporation, Hope Enterprise Corporation, and Chase Community Development Banking. Gould Evans, LLC is the architect and DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc. is the general contractor.

HOPE will further its partnership with CrescentCare by opening a new Hope Credit Union branch in the ground level of the new building.

“We look forward to expanding financial services, alongside CrescentCare’s expansion of healthcare and support services, to the families and residents of this community,” stated Mary Elizabeth Evans, Senior Vice President of Community & Economic Development for HOPE. “We look forward to a long-term partnership.”

WHO: CrescentCare

WHERE: 1631 Elysian Fields Avenue

WHEN: Tuesday August 15 at 10am

ABOUT CRESCENTCARE:

CrescentCare’s mission is to offer comprehensive health and wellness services to the community, to advocate empowerment, to safeguard the rights and dignity of individuals, and to provide for an enlightened public.